Fishing float



March 10, 1959 SCHMIDT 2,876,582

A FISHING FLOAT Filed Aug. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnl/Enfar March 10, 1959 A l.. SCHMIDT 2,876,582

' FISHING FLOAT Filed Aug. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CVA UDMIE maar FiSl-HNG FLAT Ludwig Schmidt, Montague, Mich.

Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 447,985

4 Claims. ('Cl. i3-44.95)

This invention relates generally to fishing equipment and more particularly to a oat which is adapted to be attached to a fishing line.

According to the principles of the present invention, a fishing fioat is provided which constitutes buoyant means providing first and second parts taking the form of generally heini-spherical hollow part members. first heini-spherical part member has a radially extending boss formed with a passage extending therethrough. The second hemi-spherical part member hasl a boss of larger size providing cylindrical walls surrounding a recess and providing a radial wall forming the bottom of the recess. An opening is formed in the radial wall through which the boss on' the first part projects. The first and second hemi-spherical parts are bonded into sealed firm assembly with one another at adjoining abutment surfaces provided by the peripheral edges thereof and also at the point of juncture between the radial wall and the boss on the rst part.

rl`he float construction further includes a third part which constitutes a generally cylindrical plunger reciprocably supported by the cylindrical Walls of the boss in the second part so that the plunger will be movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the recess.

A coil spring having one end surrounding the projecting end of the boss of the first part is bottomed against the radial wall and has the other end thereof engaging the third part so as to bias the third part outwardly. The plunger also has a passage formed therein which constitutes a selectively adjustable continuation of the passage in the first boss. A Wire form member of longer length than the diameter of the assembled hemi-sphericaly parts extends through the passage and has first and second hooks formed on the opposite ends thereof engaging the first part and the plunger, respectively, to clamp a shing line inserted under the hooks.

The plunger is selectively moved inwardly vso as to unseat the first hook whereupon a fishing line may be inserted under the hook. Medial abutment means are provided on the wire form member and will engage the boss portion of one of the hemi-spherical members so that further inward movement of the plunger will uncover The arent y the second hook, thereby effecting a double line lock ati tachment of the fishing ioat to the fishing line.

The abutment means on the wire form member preferably constitutes a bent portion of wire integral with the wire form member, which abutment means may cooperate with a slotted recess formed in the plunger to Ace 2 will be received and seated in a corresponding recess in either a casting loop forming position or a fishing line clamping position.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved fishing float embodying a minimum number of simplified parts which are endurable in service and which will operate efficiently for the purpose intended.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fishing oat which will incorporate an improved double line lock construction.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fishing float which will provide a float axis coincident with the axis of the shing line to which the float is attached.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fishing float having wire form line attaching means which may be positively rotated to selected circumferentially spaced positions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fishing float having a wire form line attaching means and a depressible plunger which may be operated to selectively uncover line engaging hooks formed ony opposite ends of the wire form member.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the vpresent invention is described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is an exploded View showing the disassembled components of a fishing float and with parts omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a wire form member provided for the fishing iioat of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled fishing float provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention and with the movable plunger partially depressed so as to uncover one of the hooks provided on the end of the wire form member;

Figure 4 is across-sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the movable plunger depressed to a position wherein both of the line engaging hooks are uncovered;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to the crosssectional views of Figures 3 and 4 but illustrating a smaller size embodiment of a fishing float according to the present invention;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the wire form members shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 8 is an end elevational view showing additional detailsv of construction of the plunger as utilized in Figures 3, 4 and 5;

Figure 9 is an alternative embodiment of small sized floats;

Figure 10 is a cross-section taken on line X-X of lFigure 9;

Figure ll is an alternative embodiment of small sized floats; and

Figure 12 is a transverse View of the plunger of Figure l1.

The fishing float of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 and comprises buoyant means 11 providing first and second parts indicated by the reference numeral l2 and i3, respectively.

l The first part 12 comprises a generally hemispherical hollow member having a boss 14 extending generally cal h'olltiw4 rne'm'herhavinglfcylindrical Walls. 17: surround-- ing av recessl 18',- the; en'd wall ofi the' recess. 18;` being. provided by a radial wall 19. An Aopening 20isformed ini the-radil walll 195 throughwhich aprojecting pilot portioriZ-l of'theLb'oss i12-l Vis extended.

'Ihe'firstp'air'tltZx is provided withlan. annular peripheraL recess 22se'atlng a-:peripherall edge 23 forr'ned on the second part 13 so that the assembled-together iirst and second parts'l willi provide: az. generally spherical shaped object.' Before assembling thea first'. and secondA parts' l2 and 13, which may convenientlyfcomprise members'l made of" a'- suitable: plastic material,- a small quantity of liquid1 solvent may be: introduced into thel hollow in teriorl recess- 24 of"'the1first;part`. 12t or the: hollow in;

terior recess 26 of the second.partl13'." Upon placing.

the first: and' secondxpartslZ'. and lf3-in mechanical assembly;A therefore; the solvent' is. distributed throughoutthe-interino' oithe'- recesses` 24: and` 26.v and particularlyover the points of juncture formingthe jointbetween the annulan recess22.I andthe peripheral edge' 23 and the: edges ofthe-openingY inthe: radial wall 19 and the vvally portions-cf the' projecting pilot` portion 21 on the bossi14rso;asito-rmly bond the parts12 and 13 into sealed together firrnrassembly/withone another. Itwill` bezunderstood; that the sealingaction eifectively isolates the recesses 24fand26 making the spherical object waterr tight andpres'erving-,the buoyancy-- of theoat- 10..

In this regarda it should be particularly notedthat the construction-whereby the radial Wall 19 is provided with an opening 20 tojreceive-the projectingpilot portion 21 greatly enhances the sealingcharacteristics of the-oat 10.1sinceaparticularly small sealing areamay be: closed. ol. Furthermore, greater. manufacturing tolerances are permitted with. this. design since this-portienfpof. thev device. could.- also. be4 readily sealed' through the. recess. 18'- by. virtue of;the:projecting.relationship of the pilot portion 21 through the opening 20 and upA into the recess `18 beyond thelirnits of the radial wall 19.Y Theghrelative amount of: projection is. clearly indicated in. EiguresfS, 4. and 5 where the parts are assembled together.

A third-part. of theassemblage is indicated at27 and constitutes. a.. generally cylindrical plunger which is reciproc'ably supported by the cylindrical walls 17 and which is. mov-able in the` recess 18T inwardly and' outwardly relative to the spherical object 12', 13.

A.coil.sp ring 28 has one end 28a which surrounds the. projecting pilotportionl of the boss 14. The. end 28falso, bottoms against the radial. wall' 19.

The other end'of'the coil` sprig28f indicated vat 28b is.. received WithinanV annular recess 29 formed within the plnger 27 so that the. plunger 27 will be biased in outward. direction. Y

The thirdpart or plunger 27' has apassage 30 formed therein.. which forms wirtually a selectively adjustable i:iintiiriiiatir'il ofthe passage 161. provided by" the* bossA 14 since the 'plunger 27`-'is' teles'c'opically` movable in the rejcess18. In other words, it will beundcrstood'pthatalthough various sized" counter bore's' and other reliefs are formed.along the length of. the passage, the passage 16, 30 'extends in a dia'n'retral axis completely'through the spherical object formed by the first and second part's12 and"13'and by thethird 'part 27;

y The end of the plunger 27 is recessed asA at 45` so that a peripheral lip 45a is provided which functions as a finger grip inmanipulating the plunger.

Inac'cordance` with the principles of the present invention, a wire formmember 31- is located in the passage 16,- 30" andVY is ofV av longer length than thel diameter of the assembled hemi-spherical parts 12and 13'.

Alfil-'st' hoolc32 is formed on; one e'nd of thewire: form member; 31a and; constitutes a1. laterally otaset. reversely 4., turned end portion which overlies the edges 33 of the first part 12 adjacent the passage 16.

A second hook 34 is formed on the other end of the Wire form member 31 and constitutes a laterally ofi-set reverscly turned end portion which overlies the edges 35 of the third part 27 adjacent the passage 30.

It may be noted that. the iirst and second hooks 32 and 34 are spaced apart longitudinally a sui'licient distance to prevent separation ofi the. plunger 27 and the spherical object. provided by the first and second parts 12 and 13. In other words, if the spherical object provided b'y the-parts 1-2 and 13 is considered as one part and the plunger 27 is considered as a second part, it will be appreciated that the` separation of the first and second parts is precluded by the hooks 32 and 34 because the hooks operate to prescribe limits of relative axial movement between the parts.

Referringparticularly toFigure'7 in connection with the othergures ofthe drawings, it willv be noted that the edges 33 are particularly characterized by thel formation'. therein of a.r first; axiallyJ extending; recess- 36. The axialtextent of the: recess 36 is preferably greater than. merci-responding; axialv extent'. of thereversely turned portion of. the rstfhook 32, which reversely turned por tion isindieated-onFigure 2 :1t-.320. Moreover, the recess` 36- isy spaced. radially outwardly. ofthe axis established: by. thepassage 16.so as tocome inregister with the reversely turnedpoitiorr 32a. thereby to receive and seat the hook32 in a'lv fishinglinerclampng position.

Afshallow rectangular recess37 is advantageously provided between the passage 16 and the recess 36 so as to providesopposed edges 38 which have*` the effect of providing a. V-blocki clamp for the fishing line inserted under thehook 32. Thuswl1enthehook` 32 is seated in ttheY recess36aii`shing line is inserted underuthe hook 32 will be rmly clamped against relative. displacement with respect to thefloat. 10.

On. the. oppositev sideof. the passage 16. there is provideda second Vrecess 39. The, axial extent of therecess 39 isipreferably less than the corresponding axial extent of the reversely/turnedportion; 32a on the hook 32 so that` the curvedportion of. the hook 32 will stand away fromthe edges 33 thereby to form a continuous closed loop-relative to the end surface of the first part 12. In other.l words,.if the hook 32. is turned through so that' thereversely turned portion. 32 is placed in register- Withfthe. shallow recess 39, the. hook 32 will be received andscated. in therecess 39 and Will form a loopthrough whicha fishing line may freely pass. In this manner, the iioat 10 may bemovably related to a. fishing line threaded. through theloop for aselective sliding action.

K Orl-.theplunger 27,. a. recess 40 isA spaced radially outwardly of thepassa'ge. 30. andhasan axial extent. greater thanrthe reversely turnedportion 34a of lthe second hook 3.4 thereby to; receive and seat` thehook 34'. As shown in .Figurer 8,.a.shallow rectangular recess 41 may be conveniently. located between. the. passage 30' andthe recess 40 thereby, to.. provide edge portions indicatedat 42 which will. have. a, V-block. vise. gripping. eiect on any Iishingdine insertedunder. the hook3'4so.a's to. 'clamp the oatto the. line. inttirrn, attachment therewith.

Aswillihenotedupon inspecting Figures 2 and"6, the reversely. turned-'portion 34a of the hook 34 is again lient back'. upon itself so as to provide a second'` leg 41 which lies immediately adjacent and'parallel'to the main leg of' the Wire form member. 31'. The second leg 41 h'asa transverse abutment 42`Which is provided by bending;the' second leg` 41-r at a right angle. The abutment le'g-42=termnates in another acutelyosetleg indicated atf43 onFigure 6fwhich, in turn, terminates in a curved portion 44"-havinga radius' of curvature of sufiiciently large=extentthat the curved portioni 44 has a diameter greater than arcounterbore 46; provided. in .the-boss 14.

Inwillbe: noted that the cnrvedportion, 44.A is4 angularly ort-set.: (sce Figure 2').Y so.:l that' the-:curvedportiou crosses over the main longitudinal axis of the wire form member 31. By virtue of this arrangement, the curved portion 44 is positioned in registry with the boss 14, whereupon movement of the wire form member 31 along the longitudinal axis thereof will engage the curved portion 44 in a seating relationship on the edges of the projecting pilot portion 21 of the boss 14.

With these features of construction in mind, advantageous reference may be made to Figure 3 which illustrates how the hook 32 may be uncovered or moved.

away from the edges 33 and out of the recess 36 so that a fishing line may be inserted under the hook 32. As shown in Figure 3 the components of the oat are fully assembled and the plunger 27 is partially depressed against the bias of the coil spring 28 so that the plunger 27 is moved inwardly into the recess 18. The wire form member 31 is carried along with the plunger 27 so that it moves longitudinally and the hook 32 is moved out of the recess 36 into the position shown in Figure 3. Having threaded a fishing line under the hook 32, the plunger 27 may be released whereupon the spring 28 will bias the plunger 27 outwardly and the hook 32 will again seat in the recess 36 thereby firmly clamping and locking the fishing line against the edges 38 provided by the shallow recess 37. During this part of the operation, it will be noted that the curved portion 44 of the wire form member 31 moves through the recess 18 towards the boss 14 and particularly towards the projecting pilot portion 21.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be noted that continued inward movement of the plunger 27 as prescribed by the walls 17 surrounding the recess 18 moves the wire form member 31 so that the curved portion 44 en-l gages and seats against the edges of the projecting pilot portion 21 on the boss 14. Thus, there is no further movement of the wire form member 31 to the left, using the orientation of Figure 4, and the plunger 27 may be moved further inwardly against the bias of the coil spring 28 and the hook 34 will be uncovered since the reversely turned portion 34a will be unseated from the recess 40. The fishing line may then be inserted under the hook 34 and the plunger 27 may be released. The coil spring 28 will bias the plunger 27 outwardly to reseat the reversely turned portion 34a of the hook 34 in the recess 40 thereby clamping and locking the fishing line against the edges 42 of the shallow recess 41 formed in the edges 36.

It is highly desirable that the angular position of the wire form member 31 be controlled to keep the hooks 32 and 34 in proper register with the recesses.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the plunger 27 has an upstanding cylindrical wall indicated at 50 located concentrically radially inwardly of the annular recess 29 and concentrically radially outwardly of the passage 30.

The wall 50 is slotted yas at 51 and it will be noted upon making reference to Figure 5 that the slot 51 receives the second leg 43 and the abutment 42 thereby to provide an abutment means or a tongue and groove detent means between the wire form member 31 and the plunger 27. In other words, the wire form member 31 is securely locked for co-rotation with the plunger 27 and is effectively polarized so that the hooks 32 and 34 will normally be in register with the corresponding recesses 36 and 40.

Moreover, the positive rotation feature between the wire form member 31 and the plunger 27 insures positive actuation of the wire form member 31 to a different adjusted angular position if so desired. In this regard, if it is desired to form a casting loop with the hook 32, the Wire for mmember 31 may be rotated through 180 of angular adjustment merely by partially depressing the plunger 27 to clear the hook 32 from the edges 33 whereupon the plunger together with the wire form member 31 is rotated until the hook 32 comes in register with the shallow recess 39. Release of the `plunger will permit the coil spring 28 to bias th plunger 27 outwardly and the hook 32 will be seated in the The physical principles of the embodiment illustrated I in Figure 5 are the same as those incorporated in the embodiments previously described, however, the shape of the first and second parts, indicated in Figure 5 at 12a and 13b, is slightly different because this embodiment is intended for use in small size oats where it is desirable that the float be coincident with the axis of the fishing line and where it is desirable that the oat ride as high in the water as possible. Thus, the part 12a is similar in all respects to the part 12 with the exception that the outer wall, instead of being flush with the end of the boss portion here indicated at 14a, intersects a medialv portion thereof so that the boss 14a projects not only inwardly of the part 12a but also outwardly thereof. The part 13b is similar to the part 13 with the exception that the outer wall is made smaller in order to complement the change in configuration of the part 12a. In all other respects, the embodiment of Figure 5 is similar to the embodiments already described and in operation it will be noted that the float of Figure 5, like the float 10, may be attached to a fishing line with the axis thereof coincident with the axis of the fishing line by effecting a double line lock under the hooks 32 and 34. If a casting loop attachment is desired, the wire form member 31 may be adjusted so as to provide such a loop with the hook 32.

In Figure 9, a rst part 60 has an outer extension 61 positioned below the water line. A second part 62 has either an integral inner extension or a separate sleeve 63. which is seated and sealed on a shoulder 64. A commonY bore 66 formed by the sleeve 63 and the outer exten-- sion 61 receives and bottoms a spring 67 which biases.

a plunger 68 upwardly.

right positioning of the float in the water.

In Figure 1l, a first part 160 has an outer extension: 161 positioned below the water line. A second part 162 has either an integral inner extension or a separate sleeve 163 which is seated and sealed on a shoulder 164. A common bore 166 formed by the sleeve 163 and the outer extension 161 receives and bottoms a spring 167 which biases a plunger 168 of minimized size upwardly.

The plunger 168 has recesses 170 and 171 formed therein on opposite sides of a center rib 172. A simplified wire form member 131 has a medial loop '144 forming a stop and has hooks 132 and 134 at opposite ends. The wire form member is offset suiliciently to pass through the recess 171 while the loop 144 is received in the recess 170. The hooks 132 and 134 are formed after assembly and are similar in position and structure to the hooks 32 and 34. Y

Although I have resorted to detail in the description of my invention for the sake of clarity, it should be understood that minor modifications might be effected by those versed in the art without departing from the essential principles of the invention and, accordingly I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

l. A fishing float comprising buoyant means providing first and second parts, said rst part comprising a generally spherical hollow member having a first means provided with a bore extending therethrough on a diametral axis, said hollow member having a second means forming a wall concentric with said diametral axis and providing a counter bore terminating in a radial wall at the bottom of said counter bore, said second part comasretbsaa 79 prisinga generally cylindricall plungercomplementary .in-= configuration.k to vsaid `counter-:bore and :telescopicallynre-i ceived-. and supported for reciprocation` therein, saidt, second part having means provided withiafboreL theret through 'iniregistemwith said bores `irtsaid first-partv and 5,; being urth'erfprovided with an annular :recessr concentric r with thevfrneans providing t said bore fin .saidf :secondnpa: acoil 'spring bottomed l'at one end=` in :said annnlarurecesss and bottomed-Tat theA oth'erend Iagairistfsaid:'radial.avail,

thereby-to .loadsaid-y first fandsecond zparts: in opposite. .10

axial directions, a-wire rform' member .extending r through'` 7 said'- 14boresgin 'said r'st: fandrsecondapartaf. al rst u'hook l: formed-fon one endgloftsaid vWire form-:member zand 'icones stituting--a laterallyv o-iset -reversely u turned'4 end uportion f tooverlie-the external=` 'surface portion ofi saidvrstf. `part: 15 z adjacent saidbore -therei-n, avsecond.hookifformedI on the.` otherl end ofsaidfwire form member and constituting -a-v laterally off-"set reverselyturned.`- end portion to xoverlie.; the edges .of v saidv secondpart adjacent-said bore therein, said;-r'st andsecond hooks being spaced 'apart longiv20,. tudinally a lsuiicient distance tot prevent separationV Yof.:` said=first and-second parts Awhile :prescribing limits oir relative-axiabmovement.between the parts, arfirstz'axially extendingrecess for-med in saidI external' surfacenportion ofsaid first party in register with'said riirst'hook to receive .25:

andsea-t said first hook;` thereby to provide. `one line lock;v when a fishing line is/inserted. under `said first hook,:and i a seconaxiallyy'extend-ing .recess formed in said. externalv surfacetportionof: said 'second part in register Awith said.

second hook to receive and seat said second hook, there 3013 by-to provide a secondvlinelock vwhen a shing-iine is inserted under said second '-hook,` whereby' thenaxis. of" said tioat will'be -coincidentvwith-the .axis of theiishing` line towhichfit is attached,` saichwire:formamembern' having the =reversely turned portion: .forming saidsecond.` 35:;

hooleextende'd and 1shaped to` forma transverse` abutment; and said second part having a slot formed.therein'receiv-` ing said .abutmentito connect;l said :Wire forrnmernber for co-rotationwithrespect to'wsaid second partnwherebyt saidr'st-hookmay be'angularly displacedzout of4 register i0- with itsf correspondingI recessxto engage anv adjoining external surfaceportion of said first -partand to form-f togethervv therewith-a lloopfthrough .which :a fishing line may be threaded.

2.V A shing'oat comprising a hollowoat body havingV 45. a ycentrally disposed integr-alsleevelike: post, said post having an enlarged portionat oneend thereof to provide,l a recess- 4forming-a socketffor receiving a `coil spring,na cap member extending'substantially over said spring slid# ably mounted inA said enlarged A portion yof saidpost,4 a wire form shaftextending 'through said4 'cap-'member and said post, a reversely;turnedihookfformed integrallylwithu each'end .zot said,shaftt'the1other-tendtofsaid post hayngf an. endtwalLsaidr end wwall. havingt-,aztstt opening ,fthereer through forazthe slidablelv reception-:off -saidcshaful sa-idi emh` wallnhavingi a t -f seconchz opening;. eccentrically` positioned L' withrespect, to. said firstfopeningrssaid capimembeit having;Y a rst opening therethroughfo'rzthetslidablerreceptionn` offsaidzshahfsaid capmernber having ,afsecondcopening eccentrica-ily positioned .withrespectto said irst' opening; saidrfhooks having-:.thein; freer,V ends 1 receivable: in said; eccentricopenings, the :outerrside of 'said'endfwall and.; said capzmember. beingffurged 'towards the bighttportion't oizthe, respectivemocks,` said bight portions I being adapted.. to.receive'y ra .iishingline for. interchangeably clamping and slidably `mounting .fthe float body non i the fishing fline, said reversely: turned hookwon: one :end`v ofwsaid Iwire -formi shaft being Iagainbent baclt upon itself-A to proviclezra second. legy immediately,- adjacent :and parallel rtof'lthea main glegfofr .the wire'form shaft, said second` leg tbeingz oisentransversely v,to u forms an abutment, and .saidv -abuti ment terminating inY an axially. extending curved portionf olsuiciently largesfsize to be zengageable with ysaid rother portiomof said fpost,v said capmember -havingf a; slot,y receiving saidabutment" and; said axially. extending curved-r portion togconnect'said wire form shaft for ..corotation'f with said .capvmemberx 3. A fishing iloat-:asrdened-.intclaim 2,'- said capmemw bei:l having 4an :abutment fspacedffrom abut. confronting-zsaid.r abutment on said wire form shaft and engageablewthereai with.:upon depression iof saidcap memberv to rstvexpose one .f of said :hooks: .and then :engagexsaid:.curvedv fportionf ofzfsaidrwire form shaftagainst: said other yend/portiona of lsaid posty whereupon continued-,depression ofA said cap..Y memberl willl expose; the other of said hooks. f v K 4.1 A fishing iloatv assdeiined 'inrclaim r2,at y leastone of s said. Louter-:sides of said end` vwallfl and. :said l:.cap; rnern-A ber having. a. .shallow lrectangular recess formed-f therein; between ithetcorresponding zrst and 'second openings; and: providing :opposed edgesuhaving az-,block Avise; 'grippingAv effect. on the x-shing. lineV inserted under: the Acorrespond-" ing` hook.:

References Cited in thele of this'patentV UNITED .STATES PATENTS 575,674 I Woodward' Jan. 19, i897 2,065,854 Edel-'.etnal.v Dec.A 29, 1936- 2,255,853 M'akusaet al.; Sept. 16, 1941 2,670,560 Matras.v Mar.2,f1954l i 2,706,869 Shoenfe'lt- Apr. 26,1955'. 50: 2,758,410y Crm/servu yAug-14, 1956 2,767,506'l Robinson` Oct.I 23,:.1956 

